Mumbai: India's domestic equity benchmarks opened cautiously lower on Friday, with investors eyeing the Reserve Bank of India's policy announcement and Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit for bilateral talks.

The Nifty 50 commenced at 25,999.80, down 33.95 points or 0.13 per cent, while the BSE Sensex started at 85,125.48, shedding 139.84 points or 0.16 per cent, as market participants awaited the central bank's forward guidance.

Banking expert Ajay Bagga told ANI the Governor's remarks will be pivotal, covering interest rate direction, disinflation sustainability, and growth outlook. "The market will be parsing the Governor's statement not just for the rate, but also for the forward guidance on the sustainability of disinflation and the RBI's comfort level with the current growth momentum," he said. 

Also Read: RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25% 

Broader NSE indices mirrored caution: Nifty 100 fell 0.13 per cent, Nifty Midcap held marginally positive, and Nifty Smallcap dipped slightly.

Sectorally, Nifty IT, Metal, Pharma, and Healthcare posted modest gains, while Nifty Auto declined 0.10 per cent, Nifty FMCG 0.11 per cent, Nifty Private Bank 0.26 per cent, and Nifty Consumer Durables 0.33 per cent.

Enrich Money CEO Ponmudi R noted GIFT Nifty signals a flat open amid rupee weakness and FPI outflows, with Nifty range-bound between 25,900 and 26,100 above key trendline support in a rising wedge pattern.

Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day state visit, including the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 5.

With inputs from ANI